Nothing huge to note here as of late.  It is pretty sad when my life is too mundane to report on a blog about my mundane life.  The most exciting things are happening with the kid (no surprise there) and being reported on that blog instead.  But I did come up with a few tidbits...

With the wee one forming more patterns and me learning how to interpret them, it has been easier to get out a bit here during this warm weather swing.  We headed out this past Friday to catch up with the Makins for a bite of sushi!  It wasn't quite Nyko's, as there are certain rolls they had that I adored, but it was pretty good.  I am confident however that when we make our next trip to Jtown a stop at Nyko's is definitely on the schedule.

I started spotting some of the plants trying to come up out front.  Hopefully everything will survive any future blasts of cold that come through.  I'm very eager to see spring with the beautified front yard.

This week we will be readying ourselves for a visit from my sister.  I know she doesn't care if I clean before she arrives, and it won't all get done - but some of it desperately needs done.  Because she is always looking for something to do and I spotted a good deal on a ceiling fan I liked I now have a fan ready to install in my bedroom (replacing the one that was improperly wired - both the light and fan are on the same switch).  I'll then move the existing fan to the workout room so it too will have a light/fan on switches.

We didn't get the amount of snow they called for, which pleased me greatly.  It was raining yesterday afternoon and pretty hard later in the evening.  I saw the temps in the 60s around noon and watched it drop 7 degrees to 34 from the time I left to pick up the baby until I returned home (and daycare is only 5 minutes away).  At that point the water was lying on the main road pretty heavy and I worried we'd have an ice rink.  Once again things were plowed out front before I even got out of bed at 8am. (She let me sleep in!  -and I had fallen asleep on the couch last night around 8 too - I feel pretty well rested today.)

Tonight I tried a local wing joint, The Hofbrau just down the road a wee bit.  They've been on my radar for a while, but I finally decided to brave the cold with the baby to hunt and gather, since they don't seem to appeal to my Favorite Egg.  I have to say, it was a good recommendation!  The wings themselves were perfectly cooked, my only complaint is that honey-garlic really should have chunks (and lots of them) garlic.  The cheese sticks were meh - but they might be better reheated.  Now the fried cauliflower?  They were amazing!

The wee one and I returned home with our goodies and fired up Netflix to watch The Polka King, a Jack Black flick that I was made aware of because the Alex Meixner band put the word out there, as they - or at least he, not sure which - helped out with the album and some of the shows they've been hitting to market it.  I guess I should have finished watching the end of the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie since I fell asleep midway through it last night.

As much as early last year saw all too much death and passing - this year I am already aware of two friends who lost a family member due to suicide.  There just aren't words.  It doesn't make sense.  I can't imagine being in such a state and yes, I have struggled in years past with my own flavors of depression.  I look back many years to people I know who had someone close to them choose the same path and I see how much it, pardon my bluntness, but how much it messed those people up.  We're talking relationship problems and stability/common sense lost in very smart and vibrant people.

I just pray to see much less of this around me and the people I know.  I pray that I would see or hear any cries for help made in my presence.  I pray that anyone that is in that struggle finds the strength to fight and to get the help they need.

I turn to my upbringing as a Catholic and I struggle.  Is it a mortal sin?  Do these people go to hell?  I can't imagine anyone who chooses this path being well mentally and they are absolutely being tortured by something inside.  How does He see all of this?  That is my struggle today as this confusion gives me pause when I want to say with confidence "you'll be reunited one day".  Forgive my questioning - I seek to understand.

I neglected to mention the girls had their yearly trip to the vet last weekend.  This meant we met a new/local vet.  I'm still very sad to part ways with RVH and Dr. S, but this vet seemed pleasant and concerned enough.  While the bill was larger than it was back in Jtown (and so many ppl said RVH was $$$$) it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.  Either way we're all stocked up on heartworm preventative and vaccinated for another year, well, except Saffy's rabies which is due in May.

We made it through the first freeze and snow/slush with the back stairs and the girls didn't have any issues.  I can, of course, shift to bringing them in and out through the basement door if need be, but as creatures of habit I'm sure they'd sneak up the stairs when they were finished using the facilities before coming to the basement door.

Speaking of the freeze, I'm eager for a few days here with warmer daytime temps.  I won't feel as trapped in the house.   Now is the time to make the grocery run and all else, right?  Of course two of the three days of warmer weather also are calling for rain.  From the stand point of the dogs and the back yard I'd rather those days be snow, so I don't have a muddy mess to contend with.

There is actually a dusting of snow on the road.  I always get a little tense and worried about sliding and probably drive more like a southerner, but I think many folks here have me beat.  I dropped Avery off this morning without an issue, thank God, but I already saw someone spinning trying to get up the grade in front of my house just a few minutes ago.  So where I wasn't nervous before I am now - thanks bro.  The plow was headed in the other direction at the same time as this person was spinning tires, which is pretty impressive considering the road goes to a no outlet - they're on top of it here pretty fast.  I guess the test will be if we get more to see if/when they come back and plow again.

The cancelled school too... it's back up to 32 degrees, and it's not even an inch yet, so... wth?  With it cancelled I'm even more surprised they were out plowing already.  Dorothy, you're not in Richland anymore.

My days are all screwed up... so I sang to Saffy today for her 9th birthday with me (and since I'm guessing she was a year when I got her - her 10th birthday overall).  On one hand I should feel bad for not celebrating her yesterday, but on the other hand I think it's nice to celebrate her on Pete Steele's birthday too!

The temps are still pretty darn cold but it's better today than it was a few days ago.  Hopefully it won't dip back down as the wee one has to head to the doctor for her 4 month check (albeit late) at the end of the day.

I neglected to mention I started off my around the house goals for 2018 on the right foot.  Yesterday a handyman came to install the cabinets in the laundry room.  They look great and I'm very pleased.  He didn't make a mess, was quick (quicker than guestimated), and reasonably priced.  I am definitely going to call him for the next task.  All in (cabinets and installation) I was just between $500-600.  I'm golden with that.

I also think I've picked the tile I want for the half bath on the small wall behind the mirror/vanity.  I can order that at any point and hold it here until I get the other components.  Since there is cutting involved (outside) we're going to hold off until the weather is a little more agreeable to start up this activity.

It has inspired me however (and since the budget wasn't blown I feel like I can slush some money in another direction).  I wish I had confidence in a selection of a replacement light for the dining room.

I want to, once again, sing the praises of having a garage I can use.  This morning the temperature on the dash of the car went from in the 30's to -10 after I pulled out of the garage.  I can't imaging needing to warm up a car every morning to make it safe to load the baby in to take her to daycare.  While 30's aren't ideal, it sure beats being out in the frigid cold.  Granted, I'm still shaking my head at the idiocy that is not having any heat in the garage itself (new code is stupid).

Lord, thank you for our warm home.

You know it's cold when Safyre is standing at the door eager to come back in.